Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Bronson Arroyo. Paul Janish would have won the honor if he'd had just one more RBI. Sadly, Drew Stubbs didn't touch third base. As it stands, if you ignore the first two batters of the game, Arroyo pitched 7.1 innings of shutout ball with four hits, five strikeouts, and two walks. Honorable Mentions go to Paul Janish, Scott Rolen, and Kelly Johnson.
Key Plays
- Of course, Bronson Arroyo did pitch to the first two batters of the game. Chris Young doubled and Kelly Johnson hit a home run. Diamondbacks lead, 2-0.
- It looked like a bad start, but Arroyo settled down and pitched very well for the rest of the game. The Reds faced Daniel Hudson, who was dominant in the early going. He recorded 8 of the first 9 outs via strikeout. Some questionable baserunning/umpiring (depending on your point of view) helped him keep the Reds off the board in the fifth inning. Drew Stubbs singled to begin the inning, and Paul Janish connected on a hit-and-run pitch for a double. Stubbs came flying around to score -- only not. Mark Reynolds called for the ball at third and Jerry Layne, the home plate umpire, called Stubbs out for missing third base.
- The Reds finally did get to Hudson in the sixth inning. Back to back to back singles from Laynce Nix, Joey Votto, and Scott Rolen scored one run. Jay Bruce then bounced into a double play, his second of the game, and Votto scored to tie the game. Game tied, 2-2.
- From there, there was no going back. Paul Janish homered off of Hudson in the seventh. Reds lead, 3-2.
- One run leads in the ninth inning lead to stress for many Reds fans, so the Reds and Diamondbacks got together and decided to do something about that. Paul Janish started the inning by reaching on a throwing error by Mark Reynolds, and Blaine Boyer hit pinch hitter Jonny Gomes with a pitch. D.J. Carrasco came in to relieve Boyer, and Paul Janish stole third base. It didn't matter much, because Carrasco hit Brandon Phillips, then uncorked a wild pitch allowing Janish to score. Laynce Nix grounded out and Carrasco intentionally walked Joey Votto. But Scott Rolen hit a single that scored both Gomes and Phillips. Then Jay Bruce grounded into his third double play of the game. Reds win, 6-2.
Other Notes
- Daniel Hudson struck out ten Reds. The other three Diamondbacks pitchers struck out none.
- The Reds are 17 games over .500, a season high.
- Paul Janish has 4 home runs on the year in 106 at-bats. Orlando Cabrera has 3 home runs in 416 at-bats.
- Jim Edmonds was a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and grounded out with the bases loaded.
- Francisco Cordero made an appearance in which he allowed no hits or walks for just the fifteenth time this season. He's pitched in 57 games.